ARCrOMVS MOXAX. 249 



of his j()urnc)ing there to drnik. Hence it seems probable that the 

 moisture which his system requires is derived from the juices of 

 the plants on which he feeds, together with the dew or rain that 

 mav have lodo'ed iiijon them. 



Having searched in vain for the record of an instance where a 

 Woodchuck has been known to swim, voluntarily, I take great 

 pleasure in bcnng able to contribute an account of a case that 

 recentl)' fell under my jjcrsonal obserx-ation. On the 12th of June*, 

 1883, while rowing up the; Inilton Chain of Lakes, in compan)- with 

 Dr. A. K. iMsher and Weaker H. IMerriam, a Woodchuck was 

 observed in the water directU' ahead of the boat swimming across 

 the channel between vSecond and Third Lakes. He swam deep, 

 at times the top of his head and the tij) of his tail alone appearing 

 above the surface. He crossed from the; north to the south shore 

 and was evidentlv ver\- much fatigued and somewhat confused, for, 

 although I pushed the l)oat close after him as he was about to 

 emerge, he only partly climbed out upon a small log that extend- 

 ed into the water, and showed no inclination to move off, or e\-en 

 to change his position. He was poked se\-eral times with a stick, 

 and finally Dr. L^isher actualK- stroked him with his hand before he 

 became sufficienth' aroused to show that he was aware of our 

 presence. We left him standing partly upon the log, with one leg 

 still in the water, shivering, and apparentK' in a xery unhapp\- state 

 of mind. This animal was xdung, and was evidentl)- travelling 

 about in search of a suitable place in which to establish his hom(\ 



The Woodchuck can always be taken in a steel trap set with 

 proper care, and concealed from view, l^y this means it is gen- 

 erally easy to rid our fields of his presence. Dr. C. L. Bagg and 

 1 once caught thirty-three Woodchucks in a large meadow during 

 a sino^le season. 



In a recent number of the Auicricaii Field (Vol. XX, No. 10, 

 Sept. 8, 1883, p. 225) I recorded the following very unusual occur- 

 rence : On the 28th of July last, hearing a commotion among some 



